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pacifiste

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Etymology and origin of the French word pacifiste

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1906 Tharaud, Dingley More words from the 20th century
Ultimate origin
Latin pācificus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin pāx
Catalan pau
French paix
Italian pace
Romanian pace
Spanish paz
English pax
Latin pācificus
French pacifique
French pacifiste
English pacifist
Romanian pacific
From the same root
French apaiser ← pāx
Latin pācificō ← pāx
Latin pācō ← pāx
French pacifisme ← pācificus

Pronunciation

  • /pa.si.fist/[1]

Forms

pacifiste m or f by sense (plural pacifistes)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French pacifique + -iste, a learned formation.[2][3][1][4] The adjective pacifique is from Latin pācificus (“peacemaking”).[1] It goes with pacifisme, proposed by Richard de Radonvilliers in 1845 and taken up again in 1901.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as a noun in 1906, in the Tharauds' Dingley, meaning a supporter of peace; the adjective follows in 1907, in the supplement to the Nouveau Larousse illustré.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Since 1919 the word has also been used pejoratively of someone who wants peace at any price, even when his own country is at war.[2][5][3]

Timeline

  • 1906 – First recorded as a noun.[2][5]
  • 1907 – First recorded as an adjective.[2][4][6]
  • 1919 – Hermant uses it pejoratively.[2][5]
  • 1923 – The Larousse records the pejorative sense.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A supporter of peace, an adherent of pacifisme: a pacifist.[2][6][1]
  2. (pejorative) A person who wants peace at any price, even while his own country is at war.[2][3]

Adjective

  1. Relating to pacifism or to pacifists, as in un discours pacifiste.[6][2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Pacifiste.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/pacifiste. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·